Ahmanson Theatre News

Greg Louganis - the diving legend who first swept the Olympics in 1984 and 1988 - will serve as celebrity host when Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - will conclude their all-star 2016-2017 season with You Spin Me 'Round: An 80's Dance Party.

Casting is finalized for three local productions being presented as part of Center Theatre Group's inaugural Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre.

Dig this: Asolo Rep will proudly present the world premiere of BEATSVILLE: The Beatnik Musical, a co-production with Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. BEATSVILLE has a book by Glenn Slater, a Grammy winner (Disney's Tangled), and Academy Award (Tangled), Emmy (ABC's Galavant), Golden Globe (Tangled) and three-time Tony Award nominee (School of Rock, Sister Act, The Little Mermaid), and the co-creator of Disney's worldwide smash hit Tangled.

Center Theatre Group welcomes NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt to its Board of Directors.

Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - will conclude their all-star 2016-2017 season with You Spin Me 'Round: An 80's Dance Party on Friday, April 7 at 8:00 PM atThe George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium (730 21st Street NW, Washington, DC). Put on your dancing shoes and travel back in time to the era of neon, teased hair, and shoulder pads as the American Pops interpret the popular music of the 1980's. This "rad" original program combines DJ mixing, live orchestra, dancers, and hot vocalists to bring back favorite music of the 1980's in a whole new way. 80's inspired attire is encouraged. Our talented performers lead the party and will get you into the groove like it's 1989. Tickets to the show are on sale now at www.TheAmericanPops.org.

As previously announced, Theatre Forward and Chairman James S. Turley will lead a celebration to support American theatre at the annual Chairman's Awards Gala on Monday, April 3rd, at The Pierre New York (2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue).

The Fiasco Theater Production of 'Into the Woods', with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, will arrive at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre this spring, with one preview on April 4 and an opening night set for April 5 for a run through May 14, 2017. BroadwayWorld has highlights and behind the scenes action below!

'Jersey Boys,' with book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, choreography by Sergio Trujillo, and direction by Des McAnuff, will run at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre beginning May 16 for an opening night on May 18. Performances will continue through June 24, 2017. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the touring cast in action below!

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle announced the recipients of its 48th annual awards for distinguished achievement in theatre tonight, Monday, March 20, at the Colony Theatre in Burbank.

Center Theatre Group invites current undergraduate and graduate-level college and university students to attend the 'Going Pro Career Fair' on Saturday, April 8, 2017, hosted by East Los Angeles College (ELAC) from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle is proud to announce a new special award to be presented at its upcoming awards ceremony on March 20: The Gordon Davidson Award for distinguished contribution to the Los Angeles theatrical community. The award is sponsored by the Center Theatre Group, where Gordon Davidson served as the founding Artistic Director from 1967 to 2005, and will be presented this year to Pro99.

Currently in previews, pedestrian-based live art experience "Remote L.A." opens Tuesday, March 14 at 4 p.m. as part of Center Theatre Group's 50th season at the Mark Taper Forum. Created and conceived by Stefan Kaegi and Jorg Karrenbauer of international documentary theatre team Rimini Protokoll, "Remote L.A." takes place in Downtown L.A. and will run through April 2, 2017. Scroll down for a first look at the participants on the streets of L.A.!

As a way to celebrate International Women's Day this year, I attended the World Premiere of Ngozi Anyanwu's new play GOOD GRIEF at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. The production is directed by Patricia McGregor, with Anyanwu performing as the lead character, Nkechi. This is the first of Anyanwu's plays to receive a full professional production with great techniical credits including an impressive movable set designed by Stephanie Kerley Schwartz, costumes designed by Karen Perry, lighting designed by Pablo Santiago, with sound design by Adam Phalen. The cast features, in alphabetical order, Dayo Ade, Wade Allain-Marcus, Ngozi Anyanwu, Marcus Henderson, Omoze Idehenre, Carla Renata and Mark Jude Sullivan.

Abingdon Theatre Company, under the artistic direction of Tony Speciale, presents the world premiere of CHESS MATCH NO. 5, conceived and directed by Anne Bogart, with text arranged by Jocelyn Clarke from the words of John Cage.

The Music Center, L.A.'s performing arts destination, welcomes Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on March 8 - 12, 2017 as part of the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center 2016-2017 season at The Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The company will perform three different programs during the five-day engagement.

The complete cast has been announced for the acclaimed Fiasco Theater production of "Into the Woods" opening April 5, 2017, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and playing through May 14, 2017, with one preview performance on April 4. This celebrated new production of the Tony Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, is directed by Noah Brodyand Ben Steinfeld.

In a move sure to delight children and families, The Music Center, L.A.'s performing arts destination, announced it will bring a favorite holiday tradition back to Los Angeles with a co-commission of an all-new production of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker by Miami City Ballet. 

Check out the top stories from Los Angeles you might have missed this week and more!

Genuinely one of the funniest musical comedies to ever grace Broadway, A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER easily proves quite early on---and pretty much throughout its two uproarious acts---why it won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Musical. Filled with hilarious sight gags, wickedly witty banter, and some of the silliest characters to ever be dropped into a musical (many of which are portrayed by one actor in a dizzying tour-de-force), the show's first national tour continues its way-too-short, week-long stop at Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through March 5.

The Fiasco Theater Production of 'Into the Woods', with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, will arrive at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre this spring, with one preview on April 4 and an opening night set for April 5 for a run through May 14, 2017. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in action below!